1884 1C One Cent, Judd-1721, Pollock-1929, R.6, PR63 PCGS.
Eastman Johnson's "holey" design for the cent with the center
perforated with an irregular circumference. These experimental
pieces were intended to make small denomination coinage easier to
distinguish by the blind, and thereby to "remedy the inconvenience
of similarity in our small coin." The obverse bears the legend
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA about the upper rim and the date at the
bottom. The reverse shows the denomination ONE CENT at the top with
an inverted shield and two laurel sprigs below. Struck in nickel
with a plain edge. Although struck in 1884, this design dates back
to the 1870s. Approximately two dozen of these pieces are known
today in nickel, and the holes are slightly irregular on all we
have seen, suggesting they were hand-cut. This is a lovely, bright,
lustrous example that is mostly brilliant still. The only flaw of
any note is a grease stain (as struck) below (AMER)ICA.From The New Millennium Collection. (#62150) (PCGS# 62150)